The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-01-20
Kit Carson's Wild Ride.

that veteran pioneer Mr.. W. M. Boggs
of Napa, to question concerning the
famous plainsman and guide. "Well,
slightly, Ircckon. Iwintercd and sam
mered with him and Nick Gentry In the
old trading days of '46 and AZ the
times, you know, of tho overland trade
on the Santa Fc road, between St. Louis
and New Mexico. It took five or six
months to make the trip by wagon and
team over the Cimarron route, as it was
called. Nick Gentry when 1 was with
him in 1914, pointed out to me many
places where bloody encounters had
taken place between the white traders
and the sncaking and bloodthirsty'
Pawnces, Kiowas, Comanches, and
Apachcs."
"Blt about Carson. What sort Of a
man was the old guide and trappcr2'
"He had many Indian charactcristic.,
owing to the fact that his life had been
largely spent among the savages. He
was retiring, modest to a degree among
his whtc fellows, resisted any attempt to
bring him into notice. and was abashed
and even irritable when he perceived a
disposition to lionize him. He felt i'll
at-easc among white men, but when
among the Indians had no such feeling.
Carson spoke slowly and as one having
authority. His judgment in all diff
fculties occurring on amarch or questions
arising in council was never questioned.
His habits were simple, his fair plain. l
have known him 90 for days without
food, and at the same time feel no great
inconvenience. A handful of dried
buffalo meat, or little parched corn,
which he carried in sort of pouch be-
hind his saddle, was his only rations for
weeks sometimes. He was temperate,
too, and seldom, if ever, indulged in
strong drink. Carson was loosly- built
man, of small stature, and did not weigh
over 160 pounds. Simple habits of life
had become second nature to himself and
his associates on the plains. The
luxuries of life and the confinement of
towns, when they happened in the white
settlements, soon pal.ed on them, and in
little while they went off to their
hunting-grounds, the simple fare of the
praire, and the pure wa'er of the
mountain streams. Yes" continued
Mr.. Boggs, carson was mode,
plainsman. He was cautious in all his
movements on the march, but daring in
times of emergency, quick to perceive
any advantage to be taken, whether
over the willy savage or in combating the
elements. 1t is unnecessary to speak of
his bravery, Frcmonts experiences bear
testimony to that. He rendered valuable
service to the United States government
during the Mexican war, and after he
had quit Fremont, was guide and scout
for old Gen. Stephen W. Kearny. He
was in the hard fight at San, Paschal,
where Kearny was defeated by Andres
| Pico."
"What were the circumstances attend
| ing Carson's death2"
'lt was caused by an accident. He
broke an artery by falling from his mule,
and breathed his last at my brother s
residence, on the Los Animas, not fal
from the site of old Fort Bent, where
the two had passed many happy day:
and passed through many exciting
scenes of frontier life.
Eyes, yes" said Mr.. Boggs, slowly
and in lower voice, as if communing
with himself, "thc Rocky Mountain he.
roes have all passed away Carson, Sub
lctte, Walker. Williams, Greenwood,
Black Harris, Peg Leg Smith--all gone
to the happy hunting grounds
Recovering himself the gentleman con.
tinucd:
Speaking of Carson's bravery, let me
relate an incident that will illustrate his
courage. 1t was a most horrible and
distressing one, and took pac, on the
Santa Fe Road, near the Cimarror
mountains, in 1916. A merchant trader
named James White, from independence,
No., with his wife, servant and child
was captured, together, with his mer
chandise train, by the Comanches, who
after the Apaches, are the most cruel o.
all the North American Indian tribes.
White and all his men were Immediately
tomahawked and scalpel, and tht
women and child carried off prisoners
News Of this affair reached the New
Mexican settlement, where Kit Carson
happened be (ie lived near Taos in
| New Mexico), and he Immediately start.
cd, joining a PARTY of United S;uie